2023 NBA Mock Draft: Worst-case scenario for Detroit Pistons
Draft season is almost in full swing. With the way that the Detroit Pistons season is going, once the trade deadline passes, we can all almost fully turn our attention toward this summer’s 2023 NBA Draft. So, it’s time for PistonPowered’s first Pistons’ mock draft of the season.
At the time of writing, the Detroit Pistons control the second-worst record in the NBA, with only a half of a game separating them with Houston for the worst record trophy.
To determine my lottery order, I did one spin on Tankathon, where the Pistons didn’t get the best luck. In fact, this is just about the worst-case scenario for the Detroit Pistons, who could fall as far as 6th as of right now, but dropped to the 5th pick, not the reward they are looking for after another miserable season.
For this sake of this mock, here’s how the draft will play out:
- Houston
- San Antonio
- Chicago
- Toronto
- Detroit
- Charlotte
- Orlando
- New Orleans (via LAL)
- Indiana
- Portland
- Washington
- Oklahoma City
- Utah
- Phoenix
In this scenario, the Detroit Pistons are one of the losers of the lottery, along with Charlotte. The Pistons stay in the top-5 however, one above their floor of the sixth pick, based on current standings.
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Before the pitch forks come out, the way that the odds are built actually gives the Pistons the best odds to pick fifth, 27.8 percent if they own the second-worst record and 47.9 percent if they own the worst.
Last season, we saw this in full force when the Pistons dropped out of the top-4, ending up with the fifth pick and selecting Jaden Ivey.
Chicago and Toronto both make jumps into the lottery chosen top-4, with Houston being the lottery winner with their league worst record.